UK wind generation reaches record levels

Renewables overall provided 29.4% of the UK’s total generation last year – up from 25% in 2016, and also a new record, according to data from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This proportion is second only to gas (39.6%). The 98.9TWh generated by renewable sources in 2017 (above) was up nearly a fifth year-on-year, with the increase due to greater capacity and higher wind speeds, BEIS stated. This figure is also nearly four-and-a-half times the 22.6TWh generated by coal last year. Onshore wind generated 28.7TWh last year, up 37% on generation from a year earlier, while offshore projects produced 20.9TWh – an increase of 27.3% year-on-year. These generation levels accounted for 8.5% (up from 6% in 2016) and 6.2% (up from 5% a year earlier) of total generation respectively. Total electricity generation fell 1% from 339.4TWh to 335.9TWh (abo...